Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) was recently awarded a $100,000 grant by Middlebury College. These funds are a contribution towards the 20 percent local matching requirements of a $2.85 million federal grant previously awarded to ACTR for the construction of its Community Transportation Center, which will be located off of Creek Road next to the VTrans maintenance facility.
â We are honored to receive this gift from Middlebury College in recognition of our contribution to the economic, social and environmental health of the Addison County region,’said Jim Moulton, executive director of ACTR. â We have now raised 97 percent of the funds needed to create this center, which will enable us to continue meeting the growing community transportation needs in the region.â
â We believe in the importance of public transportation, and are pleased to see ACTR rising to the occasion to meet this challenge,’said Patrick Norton, vice president for finance and treasurer at Middlebury College. For every $3 ACTR raised from state or town resources, Middlebury College provided $1 up to $100,000. â Middlebury College supports ACTRâ s mission and encourages its employees, whenever practical, to use public transportation to commute to work,’said Norton.
During the past 10 years, Middlebury College and its students have been key partners in providing local matching funds for ACTRâ s daily operations. This support has significantly benefited the community as well.
In 2004, the college worked with ACTR to expand service to the Snow Bowl, the collegeâ s ski area, so that both students and community members could have increased access. The collegeâ s Center for Campus Activities and Leadership redirected its ski transportation funds to serve as a local match for a grant to launch this service.
In 2006, ACTR launched its Saturday Link service, which gives students and locals the opportunity to go to Burlington during the weekend. This route was spurred by student initiative, and helped leverage a government grant to create service for the greater Addison County community.
In 2010, ACTR expanded its bus system by 40 percent and the college and students provided local matching funds. â We have a track record of working with ACTR and will continue to encourage our students and employees to choose a convenient and environmentally friendly way to travel,’said Ron Liebowitz, Middlebury College president.
â Middlebury Collegeâ s ongoing support of ACTR is an important partnership for both the College and the community," said Dean George, president of the ACTR board of directors. â We are pleased they have extended their track record of investment in ACTR as we near the end of our fundraising goal for the Community Transportation Center.â
ACTR plans to operate out of the new Community Transportation Center by March 2013, shortly after marking its 20thanniversary of service to the region. To learn more about ACTRâ s services, or contribute to the capital campaign for the Community Transportation Center, go towww.actr-vt.org
ACTR 6.21.2012